Azaghal – no introduction needed. Either you know these Finnish raging Black metal monsters or you don't – in which case you probably won't like them anyway. They're back with a new one and this one's called Teraphim. And this new one is, why not say it right away, a pretty decent release.

Although not as rampaging as predecessor Omega, this is still a pretty wild ride. Testosterone-fuelled Black metal, yeah baby. A bit more melodic than the aforementioned Omega, but unfortunately also not as doomy. More accessible and less menacing usually equals a step down in my book o' evil. Still, I appreciate Azaghal for trying to keep things lively and varied in the form of keyboard sound effects, choir effects and whatnot ('Pimeyden Kutsu' is lovely). Of course that also has been done before, but well, what do you expect?

But but but but but but Holy Mother of Mary, Azaghal, what the hell sort of prank do you think you are pulling on me?! I like your style dudes, your raging blasphemy, but now you treat me to this... thing. I'm talking about that last track, 'Kyy', which has what can easily be described as 'the single most offensive, inappropriate and incapacitated lead guitar ever'. In all concept albums about rapists, serial killers and pedophiles I have not come across a melody so utterly nauseatingly suffocatingly wrong. Dammit.

Ok, so points detracted for that <blank>, what's done is done, let's move along. I think this would be the right place for a conclusion, wouldn't it? So here it goes. Azaghal won't surprise anyone with their new album, nor will they acquire or loose a substantial amount of fans. They simply do what they've done for quite some time now, and that is playing raging, hateful Black metal. Fast, thrashing, aggressive. Period.